The train whizzed through the countryside and in no time was pulling into the station. Hermione was sitting primly at the edge of her seat, having recently changed into her robes and with her bushy hair neatly braided. Ron, on the other hand, was sprawled low in his seat with the top button of his trousers undone, rubbing a hand repeatedly over his stomach. His school robes were half-way over his head but the process had been abandoned. Harry looked from one to the other and smiled to himself.
"Harry you have got to stop indulging Ron and his sweet tooth" said Hermione firmly with a despairing glance.
"Harry" mimicked Ron "Ron and his sweet tooth are more than capable of speaking for themselves and they are very happy with this arrangement."
"You won't fit into your dress robes if you carry on like that!" chastized Hermione.
Harry was staring out of the window, oblivious (through years of practice) to the bickering. He loved watching as the train trundled into the station, the gradual slowing of the 'clickety clacks' and, most precious of all, the first sight of Hagrid on the platform. The sky was growing dark and the station was lit by only a few lanterns. Harry couldn't see Hargid's large shadow anywhere. Impatiently craning at the window he eventually made out a shady figure. The slender shape and wide-brimmed hat were familiar but why would Professor McGonagall be at the station instead of Hagrid? In an instant as the train pulled level with the Gryffindor Head, Harry remembered Hagrid's mission at the end of last year and with a sickening lurch he remembered the many reasons why this year would not be the same as those preceding.
Nudging Ron and sweeping the remainder of their feast into his pockets, Harry stood and made his way to the exit. The train lurched to a final stop shaking Harry into poor Hermione who had followed him out of the carriage.
"Oh, sorry Hermione" he exclaimed guiltily. She rubbed her head and winced.
"That's okay Harry" she said but already his attention was focused back on the platform. The minute that the green light signalled a safe stop for the train Harry wound down the window and opened the door by means of the external handle. Springing down onto he platform he nimbly made his way directly to Professor McGonagall.
Looking at him she said firmly, but not without compassion, before he could even open his mouth "Not now Mr Potter. I have to attend to the new students. Please make your way to the carriages and Professor Dumbledore will speak to you after the Sorting Ceremony. No buts." She continued as Harry made to protest.
"All first years please follow me" called Professor McGonagall raising her lantern high into the dusky evening.
Harry was immediately lost in the ensuing swarm of small bodies, but merely stood motionless, buffeted from side to side. Hermione and Ron came up behind him.
"What happened with McGonagall?" asked Ron as Hermione questioned "Where's Hagrid?"
Harry shook his head grimly. "More delays. Apparently Dumbledore will explain all later". The stress on the last word reflected the depths of Harry's frustration.
It took Hermione, typically, to draw attention to the positive side of this news. "But Harry, if Dumbledore is still at Hogwarts then that means things can't be too desperate. We're still safest under his protection."
She looked at him hopefully then turned to join the line of students waiting for a carriage. Harry made sure she was out of earshot before saying under his breath to Ron "I'm not sure any of us are safe anywhere anymore." Ron nodded his understanding and then side-by-side the two of them walked to meet Hermione.
As they waited in the drizzly mist, close to the end of the queue, Harry idly scanned the faces around him. The trundle of a carriage caught his eye and turning he made eye contact with the nearest occupant, Cho Chang. The moment was awkward. Harry dropped the gaze first and then watched as the carriage joined the winding procession up towards the school.
"It's not your fault Harry" said Hermione warningly, having caught the moment. Ron nodded in agreement. Harry was sure that they were trying to help but the sentiment sounded hollow in his head. He wished suddenly that Hermione and Ron weren't quite so good at catching his every thought.
A carriage pulled up in front of them and the three clambered aboard. Harry closed his eyes and found that for the first time in his time at Hogwarts he could work up little enthusiasm for the excitement of the Sorting Feast. "Damn you Voldemort!" he thought, clenching his fists about the material of his robes, "Damn you for taking this from me as well."
The sorting ceremony was well underway, but to Harry's mind the sorting hat seemed to take an incredible amount of time deliberating. The song at the beginning had had an extra seven verses to the last one Harry could remember. He was seriously considering a maniacal dive to the front of the Great Hall in order to throttle it. Now that would be something for the papers to write about! He kept his eyes focused on Dumbledore in the hopes that the Headmaster would make eye contact of some kind but he was disappointed. Harry couldn't help but notice that there were no new staff at the top table. He wondered who would be taking the Defence against the Dark Arts classes this year. For that matter, he wondered who would take Snape's potions classes.
Eventually there was only one small child left at the front of the room. The poor girl was twisting her braids anxiously around one hand as she waited for her name to be called. McGonagall scanned the list. Opening her mouth she began-
The doors to the hall burst open with a great crash. Such force had been applied that one crashed from its hinges, splintering into pieces and scattering debris down the centre aisle. Ginny, sitting two seats down from Harry, promptly fell off her chair in shock. The entire room swivelled as one to face the entrance. Hermione glanced once quickly at Harry whose face was set in resolve. He had one hand on his wand in preparation.
Hagrid stepped firmly through the doors. His giant footfall sent reverberations down the room. A goblet of pumpkin juice spilled over. "Always knew how ter make an entrance" chuckled Hagrid noticing the white faces around him. "Did'n scare yer did I?". Scanning the room he nodded once in Harry's direction. "Headmaster" he began "it's about that secret missi- I mean, it's about that pest control situation we have 'ere."
"Quite right. Quite right Hagrid" said Dumbledore calmly. "Won't you take a seat while Miss Ashton is sorted."
"Beggin' yer pardon Headmaster, I'm afraid ter wait any longer."
"I understand." Said Dumbledore gravely. "I trust my staff and students will forgive my retiring a little early this evening. Miss Ashton my apologies to you are particularly regretful." Rising, he made his stately way to Hagrid, stepping gingerly over the shattered door pieces.
"One last thing Hagrid." Taking out his wand he muttered "Robores Repairus". The scattered wood reversed its motion across the floor and sealed itself, seamlessly, across the door."
Harry watched, tortured, as Dumbledore left the room.
"Now…" McGonagall continued "Miss Ashton, if you'd like to take a seat."
Harry groaned and lowered his head to the table. He gently banged his forehead against the aged wood.
It was typical, he reflected later in the warmth of his own bed. Events were conspiring against him however he looked at the situation. Ron and Hermione knew little more than newspaper gossip, McGonagall wouldn't tell him anything, Hagrid and Dumbledore had been unavoidably called away on Hogwarts business and there was no Defence against the Dark Arts teacher to turn to. Harry fleetingly considered sending an owl to Sirius, but he had promised himself not to endanger his godfather by providing a beacon to his position. Harry was very much alone.
Time started to fly by in the term. Their schedules were altered to the point of absurdity. Classes were taken in year-groups by the remaining teachers. Thankfully space expansion spells had become something of a Hogwarts speciality and lecture halls that Harry remembered as being quite small could stretch to accommodate all four houses in his year. McGonagall in particular had shouldered a heavy burden and as well as temporary head-ship was teaching both Transfiguration and the Defence Against the Dark Arts - at both of which she was extremely skilled. Hermione voiced a hypothesis at dinner one evening that perhaps their Professor was using the time-turner to fulfil all her duties. No one knew for sure.
At times Harry could almost forget the predicament at hand. His schedule was lighter ("more time for extra reading" Hermione had announced gleefully) and Potions with Professor Flitwick was a delight given the absence of a certain hook-nosed Slytherin teacher. It was only things like seeing Cho Chang about the halls, or catching sight of a newspaper headline about a Dark Mark that reminded Harry that they were all living on the brink of destruction.
Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a lot of time discussing Voldemort and potential strategies for defeating him. Ron's scenarios often featured a certain ginger hero but Harry had found Hermione's contributions quite useful. He found himself, much to Ron's disgust and Hermione's glee, taking notes at their discussions and memorizing charms and incantations that she had referenced. He wanted to be prepared when his time came to help.
"…No Harry, it's 'Immobilis'" corrected Hermione mid-way through one such discussion. Such was the effectiveness of her announcement that a small fly fell stunned from the air.
"Imm-o-bil-is" repeated Harry slowly.
Bored of this extra-study Ron began to whistle loudly and off-key. Harry thought that he detected a muggle pop song that Ron was murdering and wondered idly, in the recesses of his subconscious, whether Mr Weasley had procured a radio.
"Ron, do you mind?" asked Hermione edgily "We are trying to learn here. This could be important."
"Hermione I doubt that You Know Who would strike such terror into the hearts of wizards and witches across the world if a first year incantation could stop him in his tracks." He assumed a deep voice and stood arms spread in an imposing posture "I DEFY YOU. I'M COMING TO GET YOU". Switching to a high pitched squeal, he continued "Oh no, Oh no, the Evil One, what will I do, oh I know 'Immobilis' - I've saved the day". Ron ended this sarcastic re-enactment with a low bow then dropped back onto the chair.
"Well there's no need to be quite so rude" sulked Hermione while Harry tried to smother his giggles.
Voldemort lost quite a lot of his intimidating presence when being impersonated by a lanky ginger wizard.
Just then an owl swooped into the common room and made directly for Hermione. Unwrapping the scroll she smiled and then announced happily "It's from Hagrid. He and Dumbledore are coming back tomorrow and he wants to invite us all to a Birthday Tea next Thursday."
"I didn't know it was Hagrid's birthday" said Ron innocently.
Harry aimed a swift kick at his ankle but it was too late. Hermione gave Ron an evil look and then haughtily stood, gathered together her books and swept towards the girls' room.
Ron watched her go with an expression of bewilderment. Harry watched him as he sorted this information with painful slowness. He gave him a meaningful stare to hurry the process. "It's Hermione's birthday" said Ron finally and slowly. "Well done Ron" said Harry "about five minutes too late on that one".
**
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